Improvement in foot-muffs



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WILLIAM MAROT MARSHALL, O'F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOSEPH B, ALEXANDER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA. i y

Letters Patent No. 80,753, dated August 4,1868.

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To ALL wHo'M I'rMArooNeERN:

I Be it known that I, WIL'ILIAM Manor MARSHALL, of the city of Philadeiphia,.and State of Prennsylvanigliave invented a new and improvedr Method of Making Coverings, or what might be termed Muisf forthepFe'et;

'f and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had `to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification'.

Figure 1 representsin perspective aside view of the footmuil`,-as resting flat on the groundand on a shoe. Figure 2 represents in perspective a side view o'f the foot-mui?, showing the sole. Figure 3 represents a transverse sectional view. Figure 4 represents'in perspective the bag to hold the mus for the pocket. Similar letters of reference denote similar parts in the several 'figures The nature of my invention consists in using some kind of thickwoollen or other cloth, or other material, suchas buffalo or other skins, orrfurs, and making a covering for only thc front of the foot, and reaching to the top o f the instep. The bottom or sole to be of the same materials only, or the same materials having underneath a coating of India rubber, or India-rubber cloth, or of leather, or canvas, or other waterfproof material, a strap of leather or cloth, or India-rubber band, to be fastened to the back part, which. will go around the heel,

and hold the whole, to the foot.

To enable others skilled in tlieart to make and use my invention, I-.fwill proceed` to describe 'my method of making said coverings.

I would first prepare, outl of woollen or other'cloth, or buii'alo or other skins, or furs, or other warm suitable substances, a form of the top ofthe boot or shoe, up to the back of the instep, lettirgit reachall round, except the heel, down to the sole of the boot. I would then prepare a sole,mad'e of the samelmate'rial as the upper, on the under or outer side of which I would place India rubber, or India-rubber cloth, or leather, or canvas, or other similar materials, the shape of the sole of the boot or shoe, but a little larger all round. Then I would sew thevupper and under parts together, and finish the back edges with a binding, and then fasten a strap, of leather, cloth, or India rubber, reaching around the heel, which will keep it on the foot. vCork-soles mayalso be used, by laying them inside, or placing the cork between the clothand rubber. 'The top part may also bc 'lined with cotton-Wadding, and paper between the wadding andthe cloth, or several thicknesses of matep rial, to' afford greater warmth, the whole to be placed in a small bag, so that they may be carried in the pocket.

The object of the whole a'air is, to have something that may be carried easily in the pocket, or small reticule, or travelling-bag, 86e., when trav'clling,ior for skating, or in other exposed sitnationspthat may be quickly placed on thefeet, to keep them warm. It is well known that it is in the toes or front part of the feet that we suli'er most from the cold, while riding in the cars or other conveyances, and in skating, or standing in the cold, and that no provision has been made for keeping themwarm. except something that covers the whole of the feet, and thatanything made in that way is very cumbersome, and .forthat reason is almostrtotally dispensed with. This is intended to be the same for the feet as amitten or glove is for the hand, (although in almost all instances intended to be worn over the boot orgshoe,) and is almost or quite as necessary, except in walking.

These coverings, as before said, can be carried in the pocket as easily as gloves, and are readily put onor oi.' With this protection, a person can travel very comfortably. Then, thevsole B, being made as above described, will protect from dampness in many instances.

Itis not contemplated that this will take the planeet'V an India-rubber shoe, to protect against water, mu'd, Src., but it is to do what-an India-rubber shoe will not do,`viz, keep the feet warm in the many situationswhere that is desirable. It is believed that an artelcpot` this kind would lbe a real comfortto travellers in all kinds of conveyances, and for skaters, and for lookers-on, who could stand on the icc, even', with impunity; also, in dry, slippery weather, they would notl ogly keep the feet warm, but prevent slipping, to a very great extent. The soles may be roughcned in several ways,to` be better still for that purpose. The little bag, iig. 4, te hold them, will prevent them from soiling the pocket or other receptacle when taken off the feet.

Gaiters are used to a. great extent, but they can be dispensed with far better than something'to protect the toes, which are, after all, the most exposed to cold at present of any part of the body.

I do not claim anything that can be called a shoe, or sock, or moeeasin, te.; but What I de claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- As an article of manufacture, a foot-muli', as and 'forthe purposes and in the manner -as herein described. Philadelphia, November 22, 1867.

v WM. M. MARSHALL.

Witnesses:

A. JAMES FALLS, J B. ALEXANDER. 

